Method and apparatus for switched thermoelectric cooling of fluids

A method for operating a thermoelectric cooling system, the thermoelectric cooling system comprising:

• a chamber, the chamber comprising a fluid;
• a primary thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the chamber, the primary thermoelectric device being configured to cool the fluid;
• a circuit, the circuit switching the primary thermoelectric device ON and OFF based on the temperature of the fluid;
• a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger configured to transfer heat extracted from the fluid to an ambient environment;
• a primary thermal diode, the primary thermal diode configured to allow unidirectional transfer of heat extracted from the fluid by the primary thermoelectric device to the heat exchanger, wherein the primary thermal diode comprises:
• a first conductor, the first conductor receiving heat from the primary thermoelectric device a second conductor;
• a fluid reservoir for storing a working fluid, the working fluid enabling the transfer of heat from the first conductor to the second conductor;
• and one or more insulating sections to prevent transfer of heat from the second conductor to the first conductor;
• and a secondary thermoelectric device connected to the chamber to produce a cooling effect to compensate for heat leakage into the fluid, the method comprising:
• switching ON the primary thermoelectric device when the temperature of the fluid is equal to or more than an upper limit of the temperature;
• switching OFF the primary thermoelectric device when the temperature of the fluid is equal to or less than a lower limit of the temperature;
• and compensating for heat leakage into the fluid using the secondary thermoelectric device.